The monthslong (perhaps yearslong) Trey Hendrickson contract saga in Cincinnati has reached a conclusion — for 2025, at least. With less than two weeks remaining before the Bengals’ opener, a deal is in place.
Hendrickson and the Bengals are in agreement on a revised contract, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. After Rapoport and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero indicated the sides were close, it appears this endless chapter is complete. The sides agreed on what will be a $14MM 2025 raise, Pelissero reports, adding the ninth-year veteran will make $30MM this year.
While this is a short-term win for Hendrickson, the Bengals’ preference for a one-year guarantee — reminding of a previous Hendrickson re-up — appears to have won out. This is certainly good news for the Bengals, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes Hendrickson is expected to play in Week 1.
Earlier today, a report surfaced indicating the Bengals and Hendrickson had resumed talks. The Bengals had long been willing to give Hendrickson a high AAV on a short-term agreement, but the 30-year-old pass rusher had understandably sought a guarantee package that provides better long-term security. But that has not happened. And Hendrickson remains on track for free agency in 2026.
Hendrickson was already tied to a $15.8MM 2025 base salary this year. That had been in place as part of a one-year extension agreed to in 2023. Hendrickson said he agreed to that extension in fear of being franchise-tagged in 2025. With the Bengals’ Tee Higgins matter taking two offseasons to resolve, no tag was available. And Hendrickson, despite seeing T.J. Watt land a $108MM full guarantee on a three-year deal, appears to be prepared to hit free agency in 2026. Even as the Bengals observed the Steelers break their guarantee structure for Watt, the Bengals did not budge on a key organizational philosophy with Hendrickson.
The Bengals have bent on their steadfast refusal to include post-Year 1 salary guarantees in deals, but it has taken a young Hall of Fame-type talent to convince them to do so. Joe Burrow naturally received post-Year 1 guarantees upon being extended in 2023, and Ja’Marr Chase‘s triple-crown season prompted the Bengals to break their policy this offseason. Higgins, however, did not. With the Bengals not bending for a younger talent like Higgins, the team did not appear ready to give Hendrickson that type of agreement. Hendrickson’s importance to Cincinnati’s defense — one that took a significant step back last year — did not end up leading to an extension for the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, and this could be the parties’ final season together.
Hendrickson did receive an extension offer — three years, $95MM — according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, but he turned it down due to no guaranteed money being present beyond Year 1. Hendrickson turned down what may have been a comparable offer several weeks ago.
This familiar Bengals issue is now a key part of the decorated edge rusher’s career. Rather than take his chances with a nonguaranteed structure down the line, Hendrickson will see if he can reach free agency after another strong season. This top-up does not match where the Texans went with Danielle Hunter (one year, $35.6MM), which certainly points to this saga either concluding with a 2026 free agency exit or potentially taking another turn.
Cincy could cuff Hendrickson via a 2026 franchise tag. Teams usually reserve the tag for players who play out their rookie deals, as the Bengals did with Higgins and Jessie Bates recently, but this franchise also cuffed a veteran performer not too long ago. The Bengals tagged A.J. Green in 2020. If they were to go to this well with Hendrickson, however, this raise will hike that price beyond $35MM. As could be expected, veteran reporter Jordan Schultz adds a no-tag clause is not present in this rework.
Over the past two seasons, Hendrickson leads the NFL with 35 sacks — 4.5 more than anyone else. This naturally brought Hendrickson back to the table, after the Bengals did not redo his deal in 2024. The team let Hendrickson seek a trade, and while better guarantee structures were undoubtedly available elsewhere, Cincy held a high asking price that prevented a deal. The Bengals wanted at least a first-round pick before the draft, and their recent ask — even after a reported reduction –was believed to be too high for teams as well.
The second leg of trade rumors came after a report indicating contract talks had stalled. We heard earlier this summer Cincy had not offered a $35MM-per-year deal, but an August report indicated the proposal was “closer to the top of the market.” At 3/95, Hendrickson would have been the NFL’s sixth-highest-paid EDGE by AAV. While there are more notable barometers to measure contract value, the Bengals’ guarantee caution would not have made that a player-friendly pact.
Even as the Bengals struggled defensively, leaving a Burrow MVP-caliber season short of the playoffs, Hendrickson could not turn a holdout or a hold-in into a multiyear guarantee. With Hendrickson agreeing to terms rather than missing out on near-$1MM game checks, the matter is resolved for now.
This will remain an interesting story to follow, as Hendrickson free agency- and/or tag-related rumors figure to follow this agreement soon. But the Bengals, after their lengthy Shemar Stewart impasse over default language ended, will have both their top DEs available to start the season.
